Barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms

ABSTRACT

A barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms ( 20 ) wherein at least one barrel ( 9 ) which is mobile for rotation about a fixed hinging point ( 7 ) arranged on a action body ( 6 ) is foreseen, wherein an open-close top lever ( 13 ) is foreseen between a closed aligned position of the at least one barrel ( 9 ) and the action body ( 6 ), and a position disengaged and rotated upon opening of said at least one barrel ( 9 ) with respect to said action body ( 6 ), the at least one barrel ( 9 ) being carried by an iron fore-end ( 8 ), wherein at least one elastic or viscoelastic group ( 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 ) is foreseen which interacts between the iron fore-end and the action body to oppose the falling motion of the at least one barrel ( 9 ), once the open-close top lever ( 13 ) is unlocked, and to realise a balancing push with respect to the weight of the at least one barrel ( 9 ) when the collapsible firearm ( 20 ) is closed.

[0001] The present invention regards a barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms.

[0002] In general, the field of hand-held firearms, in particular rifles, that is in which the firearm is opened by rotation of the barrel (or barrels) with respect to the breech (or action body) plane, foresees different solutions which in some way aim to balance the barrel or barrels.

[0003] Hereafter specific reference shall be made to over-and-under rifles meant for hunting or shooting, even if that which is object of the finding can be applied to all collapsible firearms, including side-by-side, semiautomatic, rifled and military ones, etc.

[0004] Moreover, given that the invention is intended for experts in the field of firearms, we leave out the detailed description of the operation of a rifle, in particular of an over-and-under rifle such as the one described. We only recall the functions of the firearm parts touched by the technical problem forming the basis of the invention.

[0005] Brief mention should, however, be made to a common rifle 20, shown in FIG. 1, where its central part is illustrated in closed position.

[0006] In such a figure a barrel or a barrel group 9 is shown, connected to an action body 6 through a hinge pin 7. Such a hinge pin, once the rifle is unlocked through an opening top lever 13, allows the rotation of the barrel group 9 with respect to the action body 6. It is clear that in open position there is an attitude of the barrel group such as to allow the expulsion of the cartridge cases and the loading, by the shooter, of new cartridges for subsequent firing.

[0007] An iron fore-end 8, inserted into a fore-end 12, having the function of a grip for the hand of the user, has the task of holding the barrel group 9 locked to the action body 6 and of allowing its possible dismantling, once a suitably foreseen fore-end iron catch 11 has been freed. Indeed, in the operation of the rifle the iron fore-end behaves like a countering rod between a tenon of the barrels 10 and the action body 6. The lock realised by the hinge pin 7 is thus ensured also when the barrels are open, preventing the accidental dismantling of the barrels themselves.

[0008] Besides this main function, it is usual practice to also give the iron fore-end the task of ensuring a sufficient “pull” between barrel group and action body, a characteristic realised by forcing the iron fore-end itself, through suitable adjustment of the position of the aforementioned tenon.

[0009] This “pull” characteristic is particularly sought after. since, by realising a countering force in the iron fore-end/action body contact, it generates friction capable of creating a state of equilibrium of the open barrels, which would otherwise be unbalanced due to their weight.

[0010] Thus, at the time of assembly, it is established practice to carry out a manual adjustment on the tenon of the barrels 10 so as to obtain a forcing of the iron fore-end. Such a forcing, which gives the rifle the characteristic “hard” rotation or with a certain resistance of the barrels, does however have drawbacks. Indeed, this forcing of the iron fore-end, even when optimal to counter the weight of the barrels, obliges the user or shooter, in the barrel loading step, to apply a substantial additional force in order to overcome the friction resistances.

[0011] Moreover, the small variation of the adjustment, carried out manually, of the tenon position, given the high rigidity of the iron fore-end element, generates a large variation of the iron fore-end/action body contact force. Such a variation, besides creating friction, and therefore extremely variable operation from rifle to rifle, can be the cause, in the case of excessive pull, of problems of seizures of the iron fore-end/action body contact surfaces.

[0012] Finally, it should not be forgotten that, given the criticality of the forcing position, a small variation thereof, due to normal operating wear, can make the ideal operating conditions deteriorate early. In practice, there is already a loss of the initial pull after a few hundred openings/closings.

[0013] To try to give a solution to this technical problem, it has been thought of to realise a self-compensating controlled condition which is not sensitive to working wear, through the adoption of an elastic element. The pull function, usually carried out by the iron fore-end (Franchi patent), is slaved to this elastic element. Such an element, in the form of a very powerful spring integrated within the iron fore-end, does not, however, solve the problem generated by the friction. Indeed, since small contact forces in the order of between 200 and 300 kg have to be generated in order to realise an acceptable balance, substantial resistance to the iron fore-end/action body rotation is created.

[0014] Therefore, a purpose of the present invention is that of overcoming the limitations of the prior art, attempting to achieve a balanced state which is long-lasting and constant in time, which allows easy opening and closing of the firearm by the user.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is that of realising the least possible friction, with small variability between one firearm and the next, such as a rifle.

[0016] A purpose which is fundamental to the previous ones is that of being able to have low actuation forces and little ware.

[0017] Yet another purpose of the present invention is that of being able to have good cost-effectiveness of construction and simplicity of assembly.

[0018] These and other purposes according to the present invention are achieved by realising a barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms as outlined in the attached claim 1.

[0019] The further claims define the additional characteristics of the present invention.

[0020] The characteristics and advantages of a barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, of at least one embodiment with reference to the attached figures in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a partial section side elevation view of a piece of a central part of a closed rifle according to the prior art with the iron fore-end forced upon the action body,

[0022]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a central part of a rifle according to the invention, in partial section and with the barrels closed,

[0023]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, similar to the one in FIG. 2, where the rifle according to the invention has the barrels open, and

[0024]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the iron fore-end carrying the device.

[0025] For a better understanding of the invention we refer to the quoted FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in which a barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms is shown, in particular showing a rifle with a single bore or with two over-and-under barrels.

[0026] The invention proposes that the balancing torque no longer be realised by means of the iron fore-end/action body forcing and the consequent contact friction, but rather by the action of an active balancing force, such as to generate an equal and opposite action to that of the weight force.

[0027] In particular, the invention can be seen clearly from the figures, in which the elements similar or corresponding to those of the prior art are indicated with the same reference numerals as the previous FIG. 1.

[0028] It should therefore be noted in the example shown that in a collapsible rifle 20, it is proposed to realise balancing forces capable of creating a counter torque to counteract that generated by the weight force. In particular this is obtained in the example through an elastic group which foresees two balancers, right 24 and left 25, relative spring guides 22 and springs 23. In the example the various elements are in pairs but a single arrangement of suitable force could be foreseen. As an alternative to the elastic group described above, it is conceivable to use any other elastic or viscoelastic system, i.e. a viscous characteristic which counteracts the falling motion of the barrel and a position-recovery elastic function.

[0029] Such forces, coming from the compression of the spring guides 22 by suitable push rods 21, mounted on the action body 6, act directly on the iron fore-end 8 and therefore, through the tenon 10, on the barrel group 9, according to a line of action which is suitably misaligned with respect to the axis of the hinge pin 7, consequently being in opposition with respect to the weight force. More precisely, the push rods 21 act upon cam surfaces 26 formed at the rear of the right 24 and/or left 25 balancers. In particular, the balancers 24 and 25 have an optimised profile so as to realise a perfect balancing according to the angle of opening and a stop function at the end of the opening stroke of the barrels 9.

[0030] It should also be noted that such balancers, relative springs and spring guide are integrated in the structure of the fore-end 12 (although this is not necessarily so since it is just as practicable to integrate them on the side of the action body), according to the diagram shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 so as to be completely hidden from view with the rifle assembled.

[0031] The balancers 24 and 25 come out from the body of the iron fore-end 8 through suitable slits of a height proportional to the rotary stroke of the barrel 9, with the pushing surface 26 facing towards the counter push rods 21.

[0032] The different ways of operating with respect to the conventional system (active balancing force against passive friction force) reduces the iron fore-end/action body contact pressure to very low levels. Purely for indicating purposes, and in any case dependent upon the lever arms and the mass of the barrel group, the force needed for each of the two springs can be set at about 20 kg.

[0033] Consequently, the device of the invention does not put up any appreciably large passive resistance, i.e. friction, to the closing of the barrels. In fact, an at least partial self-closing effect can be realised. Moreover, the problem of possible seizures due to excessive contact forces is solved. The wear from contact between push rods 21 and balancers 24, 25, if present, has no influence upon the operating conditions which remain constant for the whole lifetime of the firearm.

[0034] The balancing effect is influenced little by the arming of the battery since the force of the springs 23 is substantially stronger with respect to that of the ejection hammer springs (not shown). The calibration of the device, relative to the balancing effect, is realised in the intermediate condition by a single unloaded ejection hammer.

[0035] A suitable sizing of the balancers, for example a special angulation of the contact surface with the push rods, so as to create suitable misalignments of the balancing force according to the opening angle of the barrel, allows the characteristic balancing curve to be optimised, as well as the use of special elastic elements such as variable pitch springs, progressive springs, etc. For example, a change in the inclination in the last degrees of the work stroke of the balancers allows a stop position at the end of the opening stroke of the barrels themselves to be obtained by inverting the arm of the balancing force with respect to the centre of rotation of the barrel.

[0036] Another, highly desirable advantage of the invention consists, once the fore-end iron catch 11 is freed, of the ease of dismantling of the fore-end, an advantage gained as a consequence of the extremely low forcing, limited to the force applied by the springs, of the iron fore-end between barrel tenon and action body.

[0037] Advantageously, by foreseeing a device according to the invention, it is possible to use alternative materials for the iron fore-end, such as light alloys, to gain a saving in terms of treatment costs and weights.

[0038] It is clear that a device according to the invention can be mounted on a firearm with collapsible barrel(s), i.e. wherein the opening of the firearm is realised by rotation of the barrel (or barrels) with respect to the breech (or action body) plane, without a limitation regarding the type of firearm which can be of the type used for sport (for example an over-and-under, side-by-side or single-bore rifle, in this case even with semiautomatic operation), with a smooth or rifled bore.

[0039] It is equally clear that the barrel or the barrel group, possibly equipped with targeting sight members, is mobile by rotation with respect to a fixed hinging point arranged on a breech or action body.

[0040] The barrel or the barrel group according to the invention has its centre of gravity in a misaligned position with respect to the hinging point so as to create an unbalancing torque tending to make it fall spontaneously once the closing device or top lever is unlocked.

[0041] A device according to the invention thus achieves all of its purposes.

[0042] A barrel balancing device for firearms of the present invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the invention itself.

[0043] Moreover, in practice the materials used, as well as their sizes and the components, can be whatever according to the technical requirements. 

1. Barrel balancing device for collapsible firearms (20) wherein at least one barrel (9) which is mobile for rotation about a fixed hinging point (7) arranged on an action body (6) is foreseen, wherein an open-close top lever (13) is foreseen between a closed aligned position of said at least one barrel (9) and said action body (6), and a position disengaged and rotated upon opening of said at least one barrel (9) with respect to said action body (6), said at least one barrel (9) being carried by an iron fore-end (8), characterised in that it foresees at least one elastic or viscoelastic group (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) which interacts between said iron fore-end and said action body to oppose the falling motion of said at least one barrel (9), once said open-close top lever (13) is unlocked, and to realise a balancing push with respect to the weight of said at least one barrel (9) when said collapsible firearm (20) is closed.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one elastic or viscoelastic group comprises on the one hand at least one balancer (24, 25), at least one spring guide (22) and at least one spring (23) arranged on it, said at least one spring guide (22) being in engagement on the other side with said at least one balancer (24, 25).
 3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said iron fore-end (8) is arranged on one side and said action body (6) is arranged on the other.
 4. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one push rod (21) acts according to a line of action which is misaligned with respect to said hinging point (7).
 5. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one push rod (21) acts upon a cam surface (26) formed on the rear of said at least one balancer (24, 25).
 6. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one balancer (24, 25), at least one spring guide (22) and at least one spring (23) are integrated in the structure of a fore-end (12) of said firearm.
 7. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one balancer (24, 25) comes out from the body of said iron fore-end (8) through slits of a height proportional to the rotary stroke of said barrel (9).
 8. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one balancer (24, 25) has an optimised profile so as to realise a perfect balancing or an at least partial self-closing effect according to the opening angle and a stop function at the end of the opening stroke of said barrel (9).
 9. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one barrel (9) is equipped with a targeting system.
 10. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one barrel (9) has the centre of gravity in misaligned position with respect to said hinging point (7) so as to create an unbalancing torque tending to make it fall spontaneously once said open-close top lever (13) is unlocked.
 11. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said iron fore-end (8) has a shaped end surface placed in rotary engagement with a matching end surface facing said action body (6). 